As we were out surfing through our partner’s websites the other day, looking for information to pass on, we came across this from Bayer Built, one of our favorite vendors before we came across this gem.

Local or Big Box?

• A study by Civic Economics, found that for the average consumer, a 10% shift in spending toward locally owned business would create $140 million in local economic activity, 1,600 new jobs and $50 million in local wages
• According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, small, local companies gave, on average, $789 per employee in local donations per year – larger, non-local companies donated only $334 per employee to the local community.
• A study in 2001 by Iowa State University, found that nearly all sales at new big box stores came at the expense of existing business in the same community.
• According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, studies show that big-box stores eliminate more retail jobs than they create.

Interesting, but not surprising.

Leachman Lumber has been a family-owned, Central Iowa presence for more than 90 years.  We’ve seen the big box stores come … and go.  While it can be argued that they may have their place, we beg to differ.  You cannot discount the “local advantage.”

We offer:

·      Building materials at a competitive price

·      Experienced sales staff to help you with project start to finish

·      Free estimating on any project, big or small

·      Plan service

·      Unbeatable service after the sale

·      Fast, accurate and dependable delivery service

·      A wide selection of windows and doors

·      Access to more than 500,000 Do It Best inventory items from small hand tools, to backyard play areas to plumbing essentials to ... just about anything you can imagine.

So the next time you are thinking about letting the big box stores serve your project needs, swing by.  We’ll show you the local difference.

With a mild winter behind us and summer right around the corner, this seemed like the perfect time to launch a blog to talk about all things construction.

Why now?As a family-owned business, we’ve worked hard to make sure each of our customers feels like they are part of the family.  So this blog is a little like a Sunday afternoon family barbeque.  We’ll give some advice, get you caught up with what’s going on around here, and just put out some information about products that you may find interesting.  If you have anything to share back, please let us know.  We’ll be looking for ideas about posts.  We’ll even have opportunities for guest bloggers to write about topics that interest you.

So, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and you can hear the sounds of construction all around Greater Des Moines.  That’s a good sign for all of us, and we certainly look forward to helping you in the future.